17 October EU-Andean Community high-level meeting

Date: 23/10/1997

THE first EU-Andean Community summit met with “general satisfaction” from the Andean countries, according to Ecuadorian President Fabián Alarcón. During meetings with the EU's Committee of permanent representatives (Coreper), both sides highlighted next year's 'Economic Forum 98' in London as a chance to promote trade and investment in the Andean countries. External Relations Commissioner Manuel Marín also stressed that the Union would start talks on reforming the EU's banana regime, an issue of concern to the Andean dollar-zone producers.

ANDEAN councillor José Ayala Lasso signed a 6.3-million-ecu cooperation deal with Marín which will finance rural development, education and basic drinking water services. Andean Community Secretary-General Sebastián Alegrett signed two cooperation deals with the Union, one strengthening liaison with the Andean customs union and the other setting quality standards for products due for export to Europe.

ALARCÓN met Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and Council of Ministers Secretary-General Jürgen Trumpf, and debated institutional reforms in both regional organisations. They pointed to similarities between the bodies, especially since the Andean Community's changes this year. These meetings helped to overcome the disappointment that had been felt earlier by the Andeans after an encounter with the European Parliament, which nine out of ten Euro MPs failed to attend.